Amerks expect to remain patient after six goal game

Hamilton's Gabriel Dumont is airborne next to Amerks's Chad Ruhwedel as they chase the puck in the second period at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial in Rochester, on Wednesday, November 27, 2013. (Photo: CARLOS ORTIZ staff photographer)

Having scored six goals on Wednesday night, there were plenty of smiles in the Rochester Americans dressing room.

Slump? What slump?

Then came the voice of reason on Thursday morning, with Coach Chadd Cassidy playing the role of Debbie Downer.

"We can't get fooled by scoring six goals," he said after the team gathered for a quick chat at the rink Thanksgiving morning. "We scored one goal five-on-five so it starts with our team just knowing what we are."

Basically they're a team that must deny space to the puck carrier, that must make safe and simple plays in exiting the defensive zone, and must work the puck deep into the offensive zone and be willing to grind it out along the wall.

"We have to be patient offensively," said Cassidy, whose team brings an 8-7-2-2 record into tonight's 7:05 home game against the Lake Erie Monsters. "We have, in the past, wanted to turn into a run-and-gun team and that's not who we are. I hate to use the word methodical but we need to be a little more patient."

Actually, it's a style they don't mind, center Phil Varone says. They idea of being a little more up-close-and-personal with opponents is just fine.

"You want to make them make a play, you don't want to give them time and space," said Varone, who assisted on three goals in Wednesday's 6-3 victory over Hamilton. His 16 assists are third-most in the American Hockey League.

An in-your-face game also works right into the Amerks strength: the power play. If they can force opponents to take penalties, then the power play weapons have a chance to produce.

The Amerks went 3-for-5 with the power play on Wednesday and they rank second in the AHL, converting at 24.7 percent.

They may be even more dangerous when rookie right winger Joel Armia becomes more acclimated to the North American game. Blanked by Hamilton, the Finnish-born Armia has a goal and two assists in seven games.

But he has shown great glimpses of what he will eventually be for the parent Buffalo Sabres, who drafted him in the first round in 2011. He needs virtually no time or space to shoot the puck and he is adept at dangling out of traffic.

"His skill level is off the charts," Cassidy said.

The trick is finding consistency on the smaller ice surface.

"The last couple games I didn't feel were his strongest," Cassidy said. "It's not a rush game all the time here. And on the Olympic-size ice (of Europe), you can get fooled into thinking there's a lot of time out there."